Rebecca M. Williams

Rebecca M. Williams is a Researcher at Cornell University's College of Engineering, specializing in Biomedical Engineering and Biomedical Imaging. As director of the Biotechnology Resource Center’s Imaging Core and Microscopy and Imaging Facility, she oversees advanced microscopy, flow cytometry, and in vivo imaging technologies while developing novel image analysis algorithms.

• B.E.D., Architecture, University of Minnesota (1987)
• B.S., Physics, University of Minnesota (1987)
• Ph.D., Physics, Cornell University (1997)

Her research focuses on cellularly-resolved imaging techniques for live animals and tissue preparations. Key areas include:

• Three-dimensionally resolved oxygen imaging for studying tissue microenvironments
• Adaptive optics to correct optical aberrations in deep-tissue imaging
• Collagen fibril structure analysis using second-harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy
• Mouse models for infertility and bone growth research
• Development of project-specific image analysis algorithms
• Advanced microscopy support for Cornell’s research community

Her recent publications highlight interdisciplinary applications of imaging technologies in reproductive physiology, cancer biology, and nanomaterial characterization, with a focus on quantifying tissue mechanics and cellular dynamics.

She leads educational modules on fluorescence imaging, microscopy technologies, and image analysis while supporting instrument acquisition initiatives for Cornell’s research infrastructure.